Our Lady of Perpetual Help
AMERICA/BRAZIL -
Teresina, Piaui (Agenzia Fides) – At the end of March, there was an incident of vandalism in the Redemptorist Church of St. Joseph the Worker in Teresina, Brazil. The caretaker informed the pastor that someone broke into the church and triggered the alarm. The intruder had entered through an opening in the air conditioning. Expecting theft, the custodian of the church was shocked to see that nothing was stolen, but that the face image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help had been defaced and destroyed.
In the note sent to Fides, accompanied by photos, you can see the beautiful icon of Mary that had been brought to this church from Rome, with the blessing of the Pope, about 47 years ago. During this time, she has been honored in the same church, leaving it only once, to be transported to Sao Paulo to be restored after a previous act of vandalism. In the history of the church, this is the fourth time that there was an intrusion of criminals and every time it has resulted in damage to works of religious art. The parish priest, Father Iridian Gonçalves C.Ss.R., has strongly condemned the act of vandalism committed by people who have no respect for the faith of others. During previous episodes, the act of vandalism occurred in the same way: ripping the face off of an image of a saint or an icon. "The alarms sounded, but when we arrived, the icon had been completely destroyed. What is most shocking is the brutality of the act of vandalism," said the pastor.
The act of vandalism is under investigation by local police, who have interviewed witnesses and are looking for the perpetrators. The parishioners are upset. One of them, Maria de Jesus Santos, 54, said: "It's the second time in less than two years that this icon of the Madonna has suffered an act of vandalism. This is unacceptable and disrespectful to my faith and all that I have revered and believed in since I was a child," she said.
(CE) (Agenzia Fides 17/04/2010)
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